Waste-control mechanism



Nov. 20, 1928.

P. MUELLER ET AL.

WASTE CONTROL MEGHANISM Filed Dec. 22, 1926 2 -Shee'cs--Sheetl l .111." Ill'lla n.

Nov. 20, 1928.

1,692,512 P. MUELLER E1'. Al.

WASTE CONTROL MEGHANISM Filed Dec. 22. 1926 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Nov. 20, 1928,

UNITED STATES- reeasiz PHILIP MUELLER AND LUorEN w. Mun-tten, oF'DnoATUn-,V rLLInor-s, AssIeN'ons ro ADoLyH MUELLER, TRUSTEE, or encarna, ILLINOIS.

WASTEfCONTROL MECHANJISM.

Application 1aed December aiseel semi No, 156,376.

The present invention relates to plumbing fixtures, and more particularly to mechanism for controlling the waste or drainage from tubs and similar receptacles.

An objectof the invention is to provide a waste control mechanism which may be readily installed after the servicepipes have been 'roughed in and the tubplaced'in position by reason of the fact that it is adaptable to various positions of the supply pipes and the tub, and comprises a relatively ksmall number of readily adjustable parts.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a mechanism which `is simple in construction, positive in its operation, and which may be manufactured at a reasonable cost. More detailed objects ef the invention vhave 'to do with the lmounting of the stand pipe for the waste valve, the means for supporting n the same, and the mechanism the valve. y

These and other features and objects of the invention will become clearer as the description proceeds in connection with a preferred embodiment shown inl the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the mechanism installed.

for operating Figure 2 is a rearA elevational view showing more particularly the bracing means for the upper end of the stand pipe and the operating meansfor the valve. I n

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional 'view showing the valve operating mechanism in detail. 7

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan showing the bracing means for the upper end of the stand pipe. Y

Figure 5 is a perspective of the connection between the valve and the operation rod, and` Figure 6 is a fragmentary view jof a modified construction.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates a tub having the usual water inlet spout'll, and at its upper' end 12 joining a wall 13, `at the rear of which is mounted a carrying plate 14, which may be of wood, metal or other suitable material, and carries ina number of openings registering with openings in the wall, the control valves for the 'supplypipes and a shaft 15 whichV extends through an opening 16 in the plate. The shaft 15'is positioned within a bushing 17, which is eater1- nally threadedto tit Vwithin a spider 13 secured tov the plate 14, as by means of fastenthreaded on the upper end of the tube.

ing screws or pins 19. The bushing has bearings 20, 20 for the shaft, and into the latter bearing extends a screw 21 to engage a ,circumferential groove in the shaft to prevent longitudinal movement of the latter when it is fitted wit-hin the bushing. v l. n

Behind the wall and plate, the shaft carries an arm 22 having at its outer end a pin 23 which ris rotatably mounted in the arm and is formed with an eye 23 to receive a flexible or semi-flexible connecting memberk such as wire 24 extending downwardly to a tube valve 2 5 within the stand pipev26. The pin 23 is mounted forrotation in thearm 22 so that irrespective of the position of the arm, the

outer end of the pin will remain horizontal,

thus preventing bendingof the flexible con-k The tube25 is vertically movable within the stand pipe 23, and carries atits lower end a washer or lvalve member 27 adaptedto cooperate with a seat 28 positioned within a necting wire at the pin.

downwardly and threaded into an elbow fit-V ting 36 at the end of the branch pipe 31.

`Tr-ftting 29ha'ving a lateral extension 30 The construction above generally described.

is broadly old, but hereembodies a numbercf features enabling the entire waste mechanism to vbe readily adapted to various positions of Vthe `tub and mounting plate 14, These im* provements have'to do. (l) with the operating connection between the valve and operating shaft; (2)' the connection between the stand pipe 23 and the drain opening 32 of the tub; and the means forbracing and fix-` edly securing inposition the stand pipe 26.

The rotatable crank pin 23 on the operat-` ing shaft receives a semi-flexible connecting member, such as the wire 24, the latter extend'- ing downwardly and provided witha headk 24 connecting it loosely Lto the upper end of the tube- 25 by means of a cap member 125 The connecting wire `extends freely through the opening in the pin 23 and carries a knob or boss 33, which may be held: in any selected position on the wire by means of a: set screw 39 and-has a ball-like orcurved under-sur- Y face to permit it to rocl' freely in the. eyeat the outer end ofarm 23. Obviously, by ad- Vradii may be varied.

j usting the knob 38 longitudinally ofthe Wire, the connection is accommodated to any vertical position of the plate lll or stand pipe 26. Since the knob 3S is free to rockin its seat formed by the eye 23 and pin 23, the Wire connecting member Will not bend and furthermore, the connection is thereby adapted to various positions of the stand pipe laterally with respect to the vert-ical lplane extending through the axis of the operating shaft.

As will be understood, the stand pipe and plate lil may be moved together or apart, and when this is done, the connection may be ertended or shortened, may be desired. Y l/V hen installing the mechanism, it will be understood that the plate 14 is positioned behind the Wall with the spider 18 and bushingl l@ therein. The operating shaft may then be inserted by means ofthe set screw 21, the handle 15V being removable for this purposeso that the shaft may be freely inserted from be hind the Wall. The construction may be tinished off by means of an escutcheon 40, Which v lis held in position by a clamping` cap lll having a threaded shank l2 fitting into the end of the bushing 16.

From the foregoing,it Will be apparent that the connection which comprises the liet- Y ible or seini-leXible Wire 24, the rotatable pin 23 and the crank arm 22, permits setting up of the stand pipe in various positions relative to the axis of the operating shaft 15. Tt is possible to arrange the stand pipe not only in various positions paralleling the vertical plane extending through the shaft 15 or in that plane, but also in various positions laterally with respect to said plane. ln other Words, the stand pipe maybe disposed in dilferent radii With respect to the airis of the shaft 15, and also because of the fact that the connection may be extended by adj usting the knob 38 along Wire 24C, the distance of the stand pipe toward and from the shaft 15 in said The top of the stand pipe is closed by means of a cap 26 which rests loosely thereon so that it 'may slide laterally to adapt itself to any angular orlateral movement of the Wire or rod 2st which may move in this manner, not' only because itis flexible, but also because of its loose connection at 24 with the valve 25 and through the knob 38 with the crank arm on the operating shaft 14. i A i Referring now to the connection' between the stand pipe 26 and the tub drain opening 32, it will be noted that the branch pipe 31 has one end threaded at 31 for a substantial distance andlitted within the lateral entension 30 of the T-coupling 29. Obviously, the branch pipe 31 maybe moved into and out of the extension 30 fora substantial distance, and, hence, is readily adapted to various positions of the tub with respect to the stand pipe, Moreover, it may be adjusted laterally simply by turning the entire stand pipe with the coupling` 29. This adjustmentis possible, for the reason that the connection at the lower end of the coupling 29 is in the form of a collar 4:3 having` a flange 43 adapted to engage the flange of a drain pipe il and clamp the same to the Iitting 29, on which the collar i8 is threaded. A lt is evident, therefore, tl a the stand pipe'may be rotated freely, to move the branch 31 laterally, nd also that the latter may be adjusted longitudinally to accommodate the conslstruction to any position of the tub Within a reasonable range.

The third feature of the invention has to do with the means for supporting the stand pipe 26 rigidly in position. At its lower end`Y the connection with the drain pipe ed and the tub serves to retain it against movement and to cooperate width the connections at the lovver end of the stand pipe. There is-provided a bracing means at its upper end whichV is also readily adjustable, so that it is adaptable for use in practically any position the stand pipe may be set up. This means, inthe present instance, comprises a rod l5 secured at one end 46 to the stand pipe and extending laterally therefrom. A yoke member l? is adapted to bepositioned upon a service pipe S or other rigid support, and to receive in any one of a plurality of pairs of openings 48, which are spaced longitudinally of its arms, the end 0f 'the rod 45. Obviously, the yoke may be ad justed longitudinally of the rod to permit the stand pipe to be arrangedV suitably with respect to the rigid support, and by positioningthe rod in the desired pair of openings a8, the connecting means may be adapted to service pipes or supports of different dimensions. A set screw 149 extends through the yoke and abuts the pipe S', thus sena/*ingas a common means for securingthe yoke on the pipe and fastening` together the rod l5 and the yoke.

This bracing means, the construction of which may evidently be varied considerably, is one which is extremely simple in construeand very useful by reason of its ready adjustability, Vvwhich makes it adaptable to practically any position of the stand pipe. The entire bracing meansV may be installed after the stand pipe is up, by reason of the fact that the rod .45 is not directly secured to the pipe, but engages a collar 5l detachably tlncaded on the upper end of the same Figure 3); lt will be noted that the top of the collar is provided \vith a relatively large opening 52, over which is positioned the freely and laterally slidahle cap 21 surrounding the flexible connection 24; between the valve and operating shaft 15. This arrangement permits the flexible connecting rod to move laterally during operation or adjustment of the parts, and the cap 52, although moving With'the connecting Wire, Will maintain thev opening` 52 closed,

since it is of considerably greater diameter than the opening:l

connecting element 55 carries an eye 59 Athrough whichextends the horizontal arm Referring toFigur-e 6, there is shown a modified construction for 'the purposev of illiistratinga variation in the. connection between the operatinv shaft l5 and thevalve 25.; Instead of employing a flexible Wire eleprises two sections 55, 56, the. former having a loose pivotal connection 57 to the cap meinber 58 on the 'valve 25. At its upper end, the

56 of the connecting el'eineiit56 and a set screw serves to clainptheeyef) and horizontal arm 56', together. The element 56 extends at its upper end through tlieeye of the freely rotatable pin 23, andthe knob `38, which is adjustable to element 56, provides' an extensible connection.

The connecting elei'neiits' and 56 need not be individually flexible due to the connection between these elements. As Will be understood, by loosening the set screw 60,'it is possibleto adjust the element longitudinally of horizontal arm 69', and thus the stand lpipe maybe moved' to a number ofposit-ions in a planeparalleling the vertical plane extending through the 'operating shaft '15. Moreover, due to the pivotalr connection 5T and the fac-t that the eyer 59 may beimoved pivotally about the farm 5Gf,the"'stand pipe may be set up in various positions laterally disposed with y'respect tothe vertical' plane extending through operating; shaft 15;` `Although theelement- 55 is not itself flexible, but maybe, ifdesired, itis adapted to be arranged angularly with respect to the axis of the stand pipe and When disposed in such an angular position, it will not bind in itsV vertical movements due to the fact that-the Cap 26 is freely slidable above the stand pipe. Although the extent to which the stand pipe may be set up laterally With respect to the vertical portion of the element 56 is more limited than With a construction embodying a flexible element such as the Wire Q4, it will be understood that this connection is, in a broad sense, a flexible one because of its sectional construction.

It is evident that numerous changes may be made in the construction described without departing from the invent-ion, whichis defined in the following claims.`

IVe claim:

l. In a Waste control, a stand pipe having a. gravitative valve and a valve sea-t therein, a branch pipe adapted to conduct Waste thereto from a tub or the like and operating means for said valve comprising a manually rotatable shaft, an arm carried by said shaft,

a pin on said arm extending in substantially` the direction of the shaft, and a continuous,

-aloose connection directly with said pin at one end thereof-and with the lvalve at the `other* end thereof. ment such as is illustrated in the other views, Vthere is here shoivn a connection 'which com- 2. In a Waste control, a stand 'pipe having a gi'a-vitative valve and a valve seat therein., a. branch pipe adapted to conduct wast-'e therem f toV from a tub or the like andv operatin means i'or said valve comprising a manually `rotatable shaft, an arm cai-rief by said shaft, a pin on said yarm'extending in stantially the dir ction of the shaft, and a flexible connection between said pin and valve comprising an uiigointed Wire-forml element freely bendable to permit posii'sioning` of said stand pipe rvon various radii jivith respect tothe axis of said shaft and at varying distances from the axis of said shaft of said radii, said Wireforin element having a loose connection dif `rectly with said pin atene end thereofand with the valve at the other end thereof.

3. In avivaste contr'oh-a stand pipe havingy i gravitat-ive valve and a valve seat therein, a branch pipe adapted to conduct rWaste thereto from a tub or the like and operating means forsaid valve comprising a manually rotatable shaft, an arm carried by said shaft, a-pin on said arm extending in substantially thedirection of the shaft, and a continuons unj'oint'ed Wire-form element forming a flexible extensible connection between said pin and valve adapted ytofperniit positioning of said stand pipe on various radii With respect tothe axis of said shaft and at various distances on said radii from saidishaft, said element beine,`

loosely connected at one end I directly with said valve and loosely connected at the. other end with said pin and being ben-dable Whereby to be adapted to various positions of the stand pipe relative to said operating means,

4. In Waste control, a stand pipe having a gravitative valve and a valveseat therein, a branch pipe adapted to conduct Waste thereto from a tub or the like andoperating means for said valve comprising a manually rotatable shaft, an arm carried by said shaft, a pin on said arm extendingy in substantially the direction of the shaft, and freely rotatable on an axis paralleling' that of the shaft,

we y

iiol

vertical plane extending through the axis of said shaft. Y.

5. In a'waste control, a. stand pipe having a gravitative valve and a valve seat therein,

a branch pipe adapted to conduct Waste thereto fronia tub or the like and operating means i direction of the shaft, and i'reely rotatable on an axis paralleling that of the shaft, and a flexible eXtensible connectionbetween said pin and valve consisting of a flexible member extending through said pin and a knob on said member above the `pin adjustable longin tudinally of said member, said knob having a curved under-surface whereby the same may rock freely on said pin and thc connection comprising an elongated member Jfreely bendable to conform to various selected positions oi' the stand pipe disposed laterally with respect to a vertical plane extending through an axis ot' said shaft.

6. In a Waste control, a. stand pipe having a valve and a valveseat therein, a branch pipe adapted to conduct Waste thereto from a tub or the like, and brace means 'for said stand pipe projecting laterally therefrom and including a rod secured to the stand pipe at one end and at its other Vend slidably engaging a member adapted to be fastened to a pipe, and a single means for clamping said member to the pipe and the rod to the member.

7. In a Waste control, a stand pipe having a valve and a valve seat therein, a branch pipe adapted to conduct Waste thereto from a tub or the like, and brace means for said stand pipe projecting laterally therefrom and including a rod secured to the stand pipe at one end, and at its other end slidably engaging a yoke member having arms adapted to receive between them a pipe with the rod eX- tending across the space between the arms, and a single means for securingthe yoke member in position on the pipe and the rod to the yoke member.

8. In a Waste control, a stand pipe having a valve and a valve seat therein, a'branch pipe adapted to conduct Waste thereto from a tub or the like, and brace means for said stand pipe projecting laterally therefrom and including a rod Vsecured to the stand pipe at one end, and at its other end slidably engaging a yoke member having arms adapted to receive bet-Ween them a pipe with the rod eX- tending across the space between the arms, and, means'for securing` the yoke member in position on the pipe and the rod to the yoke member, said yoke' member having thereon a plurality ot' selective positions for said rod spaced longitudinally of the yoke arms.

9. In a waste control, a stand pipe having a valve and a valve seat therein, a branch pipe adapted to conduct Waste thereto from a tub or the like, and brace means for said stand pipe `projecting laterally therefrom and including a rod secured to the stand pipe l at one end, and at its other end slidably engaging a yoke member having tivo v arms adapted to receive between them a pipe With `the rod extending across the space between the arms, and a single means for securing the yoke member in positionon the pipe and the rod tothe yoke member by clamping the rod against the pipe, said yoke member having thereon a plurality of selective positions tor said rod spaced longitudinally of the yoke arms.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

PHILIP MUELLER. LUGIEN W. MUELLER. Y 

